Picture this: it’s 4:47 am, and you’ve been tossing and turning relentlessly for almost six hours. You’ve maxed out on the socially acceptable dosage of melatonin for a person who stands at a whopping five feet. Defeatedly, you put away your phone and resort to staring blankly into the abyss because this is what your doctors, parents, and every person capable of giving advice explains is the remedy to your insomnia. But what if the answer to your sleeping struggles is on your phone?
As someone who has struggled with insomnia my entire life, the simple idea of powering off my phone is not enough to soothe me to sleep. I’m not entirely sure of how or when I discovered the answer to my ailment, but it changed my nighttime schedule forever. After years of requiring at least three hours before bed to be restless, a YouTube video entitled “ASMR 10 Triggers to Help You to Sleep” by ASMR Darling appeared in my recommended videos. Out of curiosity, I clicked on the video, and instantly, a strange yet familiar feeling crept over me. All at once, I was a little girl again, cradled by my mother in our old wooden rocking chair. I felt safe and secure in this careful woman’s presence, even though she wasn’t actually there with me, combing my hair– which suddenly turned blonde and pin-straight. Within minutes, I fell asleep. The next night, I settled into my typical sleep schedule, ready to let my thoughts run rampant for the next couple of hours, but the question, “what is ASMR?” bounced around in my brain.
What is ASMR?
ASMR–short for autonomous sensory meridian response–is a phrase used to describe the tingly sensations you feel in response to the calming whispers, hand movements, and sounds produced by the ASMRtist. These tingles often develop on the top of the scalp and travel down the spine. According to the National Institute of Health, studies concerning ASMR’s effect on the brain “…indicate that it is involved in the reward system, social behavior, and empathy, suggesting that the ASMR videos activate brain regions previously observed during experiences like social bonding and musical frisson.” When I watch ASMR, I get a feeling that reminds me of being a little kid with no worries. In hopes of sharing these sensations, I unveiled the ASMR I enjoyed to my mother, only to be answered by her eyes practically rolling out of her head.
Does ASMR Work for Everyone?
ASMR definitely affects me in the intended way, and I’m asleep within the first ten minutes of a video. I get all tingly and warm, and my range of vision shrinks by the second. However, there are people like my mother who cringe at the sound of tapping on a mic. Some simply feel nothing when listening to ASMR stimuli. People who have misophonia– an extreme sensitivity to certain sounds–can be negatively triggered by the same sounds that fight my insomnia.
Frequent viewers of ASMR–referred to by CNN as Tingleheads–have reported multiple beneficial aspects of incorporating such videos into their daily routines.
An early study of the phenomenon discovered that 80% of viewers experienced improved mood after listening to ASMR stimuli.
Research has also shown that ASMR helps your brain prepare for deep, effective sleep through the promotion of theta brainwaves.
As ASMR guides you into relaxation, there is a concept described as a “flow state” that means to lose yourself or sense of time because you’re so focused on a specific topic. Research has shown similarities between this “flow state” and ASMR.
My Favorite ASMRtists:
As strange as it sounds, one of my favorite ASMRtists is Cardi B. Specifically, when she appeared on W Magazine’s YouTube channel to demonstrate her mastery of whispers. In the video, the award-winning musician whispers her catchphrase, ‘okurt’ in the most relaxing way possible. For most of the video, she’s twiddling with a fluffy gray-colored rug, gently rubbing it against each microphone. The tingles this gave me were strong enough to sedate a horse. You might be asking how a rug can give you tingles, but trust me, after you experience the video for yourself, you will understand. I’ve seen it so many times I could recite the entire thing word-for-word. The very first time I watched it, I saw about 45 seconds and proceeded to fall asleep instantly. A professional ASMRtist at this point, Cardi revealed she watches ASMR every night to sleep, so if Cardi’s doing it, I must do it too.
Karuna Satori has been my favorite ASMRtist on YouTube for the past three years. She earned this title because of her power to induce tingles and giggles simultaneously. Ms. Satori, who refers to herself as our ‘OG ASMR Mother’, introduced me to many new triggers over the years. The most notable being the “fishbowl effect.” After watching her video introducing the trigger to viewers, I was permanently mesmerized. I started doing the “fishbowl effect” on people in my life, and of course, they too loved it. Eventually, other creators began making videos with this trigger, but I wanted to give credit where it was due and honor my ASMR Mother. Ms. Satori also introduced me to reiki in a 44-minute long video–of which I have never been able to make it past the 4 minute mark. A tried and true ASMRtist for the past 9 years, Karuna Satori continues to make videos that make me fall asleep so easily that I forget what having insomnia feels like.
ASMR is accessible to everyone with a cellular device and can make monumental advancements in relaxation and sleep. If anything ASMR-related piqued your curiosity, I’d recommend trying it out. Perhaps you’ll be like me and discover something you suddenly cannot live without. Or you might hear the very first trigger and understand that ASMR isn’t for you. Whatever your response, remember that ASMR is a simple tool that could alleviate some of your struggles. If you’re anything like me, you’ll finally be able to prove everyone wrong and say the cure to healthy sleep was in the palm of your hand the entire time.